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The members of APU student organisation IROHA
aim to instil knowledge of Japan, to not only international students
but domestic students alike through participation in the Bean-Throwing
Festival, the Star Festival and other such events which take place in
line with Japan's four seasons. As part of their activities
seven members, which included two international students, went on a tour
of the Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum during the summer of this year.
The following is from two IROHA members.
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Members of IROHA outside the Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum
(Third from the left is LENG Lei Sing) |
LENG Lei Sing
(APS 3, Malaysia)
What was the situation in Nagasaki after the explosion of the atomic bomb on 9 August 1945? How do the people of Nagasaki feel today after that tragedy,which had occurred 60 years ago? I had been related my grandfather's experience about the war since my childhood and I wonder what Japan was like during that period.Even today, I still holding these thinking while getting know to the debates about the war in Japan continuously.That's why I joined this tour.
I also had the
opportunity to meet with Mr. WADA, who is an atomic bomb survivor. Mr. WADA's
personal experience during the war was not mach diffierent from my grandfather.
I realised that both of the people in Japan and my home country were innocent
at that moment.
For our generation,
who hasn't experienced the war, what we should do is not keep on searching
who is right and who is wrong from
historical standpoint, but makes effort to ensure that these tragedies
won't happen again. In order to achieve this goal, we need to build a sense
of mutual understanding and cooperation. I believe we will be able to surmount
the difficulties as long as we are willing to take that first step, no
matter it may take a substantial amount of time. |
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YANO Keiko
(APM 3, Japan) IROHA representative
With this visit to Nagasaki, the members of IROHA were able to discover numerous
aspects about the war which had previously been unknown to us. While these constitute
erstwhile events, I think it is important to have a sound knowledge of the past
and fasten our gaze on the present and future. The members of IROHA hold as their
objective the pursuit of creating opportunities to enlighten ourselves. We have
taken this first step to visit Nagasaki; the follow-up step will be our next
challenge. |
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IROHA's
Trip to Nagasaki - Contemplating War &
Peace 60 years on |
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